Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Green Lavender (Lavandula viridis)— schedule & NPK

Also called Green lavender, Yellow lavender, White lavender.

More about green lavender

About Green Lavender

Lavandula viridis · also called Green lavender, Yellow lavender · herb

Green lavender is an evergreen aromatic subshrub native to the dry, nutrient-poor soils of southwest Portugal (Algarve and Baixo Alentejo) and southwest Spain (Huelva and Seville), where it inhabits open scrubland and rocky slopes; it has also been introduced in Madeira and the Azores. It is distinctively unusual among lavenders for its bright green foliage and pale yellow-green flower spikes rather than the typical purple, and it carries a mild, slightly lemony fragrance. It is less cold-hardy than English lavender, requiring a sheltered, very well-drained site and performing best in mild coastal gardens or containers overwintered under glass in colder regions. According to the ASPCA, lavender (Lavandula) is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.

Growth habit: Compact, bushy, rounded evergreen subshrub with vivid bright-green, slightly hairy, narrow lanceolate leaves; flower spikes slender and upright.

What fertiliser green lavender actually wants — and why

Green Lavender is a soft, fast leafy herb that you harvest hard — a modest balanced feed keeps tender growth coming without tipping it into bland or bolting.

A balanced general feed (even N-P-K) at modest strength — enough nitrogen to keep replacing the leaves you pick, but not so much that flavour thins or it bolts to seed.

For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for green lavender: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.

How often to feed green lavender, and which months

Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For green lavender:

A single light application of a low-nitrogen, high-potassium granular feed in spring is sufficient; over-feeding reduces aromatic oil production and makes plants susceptible to frost damage. In practice: a balanced liquid feed every few weeks through the main growing and harvesting season (spring through early autumn), more often the harder you are picking it.

The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when green lavender is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.

What strength to mix for green lavender

Half strength is a sensible default for green lavender — enough to fuel regrowth after cutting, gentle enough that the leaves stay aromatic rather than watery.

Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water green lavender first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the green lavender watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding green lavender

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for green lavender:

Fast, soft, pale growth with diluted, less aromatic flavour.
Early bolting (running to flower) and a bitter edge.
Salt crust and scorched tips on container plants.

Signs you are under-feeding green lavender

Pale, slow regrowth after cutting and small leaves.
A tired, stalled plant that cannot keep up with harvesting.
Yellowing older leaves in a long-spent pot.

If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full green lavender care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

Pot-grown green lavender builds up feed salts quickly — water until it drains each time and flush the pot with plain water every few weeks, especially on a sunny windowsill.

Organic vs synthetic feeds for green lavender

Organic options

A diluted seaweed feed or worm-casting tea keeps soft growth coming without overdoing it. UK: dilute seaweed or Westland; US: Espoma Garden-tone or Neptune's Harvest. Gentle, hard to overdo, flavour-friendly.

Synthetic / liquid feeds

A balanced liquid feed at half strength through harvesting — UK: Phostrogen, Baby Bio or Westland; US: Miracle-Gro all-purpose at half strength. Fast regrowth; just do not overdo the nitrogen.

Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.

Fertilising green lavender — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does green lavender need?

A balanced general feed (even N-P-K) at modest strength — enough nitrogen to keep replacing the leaves you pick, but not so much that flavour thins or it bolts to seed. Green Lavender is a soft, fast leafy herb that you harvest hard — a modest balanced feed keeps tender growth coming without tipping it into bland or bolting.

How often should I feed green lavender?

A single light application of a low-nitrogen, high-potassium granular feed in spring is sufficient; over-feeding reduces aromatic oil production and makes plants susceptible to frost damage. A single light application of a low-nitrogen, high-potassium granular feed in spring is sufficient; over-feeding reduces aromatic oil production and makes plants susceptible to frost damage. In practice: a balanced liquid feed every few weeks through the main growing and harvesting season (spring through early autumn), more often the harder you are picking it.

What strength of feed for green lavender?